The evidence of genuine faith

Most people like courtroom dramas. Unless you’ve been to court yourself, everything you know about the criminal justice system you learned from Law & Order and its many spin-offs. While there are big differences between the Ontario Court of Justice and what you see on TV, at least one thing is the same: you need evidence to get a conviction. Evangelist Billy Graham often asked this question in his sermons: “If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” It's a sobering question. And as we look at Colossians 3:12-17 this Sunday, we’ll expand it out to three questions that get to the heart of showing evidence of genuine faith. We’ll see what it means to be a true Christian.

Series: Invisible God; Visible Faith (Colossians)

Todd Dugard

Message: 7 – The evidence of genuine faith

Harvest Bible Chapel

Text: Colossians 3:12-17

August 13, 2023

If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?

Billy Graham

Matthew 7:21-23

Three essential questions for every professing believer…

Question #1 – Am I even a Christian? (v. 12a)

Christ is either Lord of all, or is not Lord at all.

J. Hudson Taylor

A true Christian can say:

(1) I am chosen

(2) I am forgiven

(3) I am loved

Question #2 – Am I wanting to be more virtuous? (v. 12b-14)

Am I growing in these 7 Christian virtues?

Compassion – I yearn to show mercy to people

Kindness – I am generous and good to people

Humility – I don’t think too much of myself

Meekness – I am gentle with people

Patience – I endure calmly even when provoked

Forgiveness – I don’t hold other’s sin against them

Love – I intentionally and sacrificially put others before me no matter who they are or what they’ve done

Question #3 – Am I doing what’s necessary to get there? (v. 15-17)

A true Christian has a heart that is: as we saw,

(1) at peace

(2) filled with gratitude

(3) saturated with the Word

The way we treat the Word of God is the way we treat the God of the Word

Warren Wiersbe

(4) overflowing in worship

(5) eager to serve

The Col3:12-17 Cycle

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